Waste water unclogging system and method

ABSTRACT

A system for clearing a clog includes a body, for example a sink or toilet, has an interior chamber fluidly connected a sewer or drain field. A wastewater passage has a wastewater valve and a trap therein and an outlet which is fluidly connected through a drain line to the sewer or drain field, the passage opening to the chamber. A pressurized water supply line is provided to selectively discharge water into the chamber. A shunt valve fluidly connects the supply line to the wastewater passage intermediate the wastewater valve and the outlet. During normal use the shunt valve is closed and the wastewater valve is open, however, when a clog occurs, the wastewater valve is closed and the shunt valve is opened to apply water under pressure to clear the clog.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

This invention relates to apparatus and method for dislodging clogs in wastewater lines and wastewater passages in homes and other buildings. In particular it relates the use of liquid pressure for dislodging a clog. At the present time, there are used chemicals, snakes and the like for dislodging clogs in wastewater lines that are connected to, for example a sink, a tub, toilets and other building facilities that at least temporarily contain water, to, for example, a city sewer line or a drain field. However, some times a commercial firm has to be call in when an individual that lives at the premises can not clear the clog by the use of chemicals or a snake.

In order to provide a system that includes new and novel apparatus and method for removing a clog in a wastewater passage and/or a wastewater line from, for example, a kitchen sink or a laundry tub, or a toilet or the like, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shut off valve is provided in a pressurized water supply line that is fluidly connected to a body, for example a sink facet or toilet that has an interior chamber for having water discharged thereinto and a wastewater valve is provided in the wastewater passage between a body chamber and a wastewater line which in turn is fluidly connected to a main drain line, a trap being provide between the body chamber and wastewater line to prevent gas flow between the body chamber and the wastewater line while permitting liquid flow therethrough. A shunt valve is provided to open to the water supply line opposite water supply line shut off valve from the supply water faucet or toilet tank and to open to the wastewater passage downstream of the wastewater valve. By closing the shut off valve and the wastewater valve and opening the shunt valve, pressurized water is applied downstream of the wastewater valve behind the clog to unblock the wastewater passage and/or wastewater line and thereby allow water in the sink or toilet to flow to a drain field or the sewer line after the wastewater valve is opened.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel means for dislodging a clog that is in a wastewater passage and/or a wastewater line between body such as a sink or tub, or toilet bowel and the main drain line. A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel means for applying liquid from a pressurized liquid supply line that is operable to conduct liquid to a body and for selectively supplying the pressurized liquid to a wastewater passage downstream of a wastewater shut off valve to clear a clog that is the wastewater passage between the body containing wastewater and a sewer line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is of a first embodiment of a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the wastewater passage and wastewater line fluidly connected between a body chamber and a main drain line which is fluidly connected to a drain field or sewer, the body being such as a sink or tub and a supply line for conducting liquid under pressure to the body together with valves that are selectively operable between an open and closed positions for carrying out the steps of the method of this invention, parts of the wastewater line broken away and water in the U-trap not being shown;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 other than a clog is shown in the wastewater passage;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 other than the valves are shown in their positions that they are in just prior to applying water under pressure for removing the clog;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 other than the shunt, valve is opened to apply pressurized water to act against the clog in a direction to move the clogging material in the wastewater passage and/or wastewater line toward the drain field or sewer;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 other than the clog is being removed;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 other than the shunt valve is closed to discontinue the application of water under pressure to the wastewater passage;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 other the wastewater and vent values are opened to permit normal usage of the sink; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the invention wherein parts are diagrammatically shown and part of the toilet stool is broken away; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the third embodiment of the invention wherein parts are diagrammatically shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a body, for example a sink or tub 10, for having pressurized liquid directly discharged into its interior chamber 10A. A conventional hot and cold water faucet 11 are mounted on a body and has a hot water supply line, generally designated 12, and a cold water supply line 14 conventionally connected thereto. Even though a single lever hot and cold waster faucet is shown, it is to be understood it could be a none mixing water type such as a separate faucet for each of the hot water and cold water supply lines. The hot water line is connected to a conventional water heater 15, for example a hot water tank, for heating water which in turn is connected to a source 17 of water under pressure, for example a city water system while the cold water line is connected to the source 17, for example a city water system, the cola water source connection not being shown.

The hot water line 14 includes shut off valve 20 fluidly connected between a conduit 19, which in turn is connected to the faucet and a conduit 21 which in turn is connected to a first leg of a T-joint 22. A conduit 25, for example a pipe, fluidly connects a second leg of the T-joint to the hot water heater 15. Fluidly connected between the third leg of the T-joint 22 and the first leg of a T-joint 23 is a shunt valve 24.

A wastewater passage, generally designated 29, includes a wastewater valve 27 that is fluidly connected between a second leg of the T-joint 23 and the wastewater outlet 28 of the sink and is exterior of the body. The third leg of the T-joint 23 is connected to the inlet end of a U-trap 30, which forms part of the wastewater passage. A wastewater line, generally designated 13, includes an elbow 31 that at one end is fluidly connected between the outlet end 30A of the U-trap (wastewater passage outlet), which is at a lower elevation than the wastewater valve 27 and a wastewater line that includes on or more serially connected conduits (pipes) 32 which in turn are connected to first leg of the wastewater line T-joint 33. The wastewater line 31, 32 has its inlet 31A fluidly opening to the wastewater passage outlet 30A It is to be understood that the conduits 32 may extend horizontally and/or downwardly from the elbow toward a main drain line 34. The conduits opens through the joint 33 to the main drain line at a lower elevation than the outlet 28 and the wastewater valve 27.

A second leg of the T-joint 33 is fluidly connected to the upper end of the generally vertical portion of the main drain line 34 which at its opposite end is connected to the sewer line or drain field 37. A vent valve 35A may or may not be provided in the vent line 35 which is fluidly connected to the third leg of the T-joint 33.

Each of the valves referred to above may be plug valves such as, for example, the waster water valve 27 other than for the cylinder valve parts and the bores being of appropriate diameters for having liquid flowing therethrough and functioning as indicated herein. That is the valve 27 has a cylinder valve part 27A with a bore 27B extending diametrically therethrough and a valve actuator 27C for rotating the valve part between its open and closed positions.

In normal usage, the shut off valve 20, the wastewater valve 27 and the vent valve 35A, if provided, are open while the shunt valve 24 is closed. In the event a clog 40 occurs in the wastewater line 13 or the wastewater passage downstream of the wastewater valve (fluidly opposite the wastewater valve of the outlet 28), water does not drain from the sink or the like, the wastewater valve and the vent valve, if present, are closed (FIG. 3). Thence the shunt valve 24 is opened to apply water under pressure to flow into wastewater passage behind (upstream of) the clog to pressurized the liquid blocked by the clog (FIG. 4). The pressurized water in the wastewater passage results in the clog being broken up and/or moved further toward the main drain conduit (FIG. 5) and then to the drain field or sewer line. After the clog is cleared, the shunt valve is closed (FIG. 6). Then the wastewater valve is opened and water drains out of the sink. In the event water does not drain out of the sink, the above steps can be repeated.

Water shut off, wastewater and shunt valves in manner similar to that described above can be provided for showers, dish washers and the like. In the event a U-trap is not used, other type traps are used to prevent gases in the wastewater line down stream of the trap flowing to the sink outlet. For example, there can be used a trap such as a cylindrical body (not shown) closed at their up and lower ends that has a wastewater inlet at a location below the opening of the shunt valve to the wastewater passage and a wastewater outlet at a location above the above inlet to have wastewater flow therethrough to the main drain conduit 34. Although not preferred, instead of the shunt valve being provided between the hot water line and wastewater passage, the shunt valve can be provided between the wastewater passage and the cold water line. It is to be understood that even it is desirable to have a shut off valve 20 in the hot water line, it is generally not necessary when hot water is prevented from discharging from the outlet end of the hot water line by a faucet or a different type valve (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the invention, generally designated 40, includes a body, a toilet T, that has a stool 40A having an upwardly opening bowl 41 with a convention rim 42. The rim has a conventional channel 42A and holes (not shown) that open into the bowl interior chamber 43. The stool has a wastewater passage 44 that includes a trap 44C which opens to the bottom part of the chamber at 43A and to a passage upwardly inclined portion 44B which in turn opens to the passage downwardly extending portion 44E. Portion 44E has an outlet 44A that opens through the stool base 41A to the wastewater line 45 which in turn is fluidly connected through a main drain line to 34 to a sewer or drain field such as indicated with reference to in the first embodiment. The trap is provided to prevent gases from passing through the body outlet 44A flowing into the chamber. A wastewater shut off valve 59 is provided in said upwardly extending portion 44B to be between passage portion 44E and the trap 44C.

A pressurize supply water line, generally designated 47, includes shut off valve 48 fluidly connected between a conduit 49, which in turn connected to a vertical conduit 51 in the toilet tank 52 and a conduit 53 which in turn is connected to a first leg of a T-joint 55. A conduit 47A, for example a pipe, fluidly connects a second leg of the T-joint to a convention source of water under pressure 57. Fluidly connected in the wastewater passage between the third leg of the T-joint 55 and a part of the wastewater passage portion 44B fluidly opposite the wastewater valve from the chamber 43 is a shunt valve 70, the fluid connection including a shunt valve passage 70A that is fluidly connected to open at 70B to the part of the passage portion 48B downstream of the wastewater valve 59. Passage 70 does not open to passage portion 44E.

Within the tank there is a convention float actuated inlet valve 72 shown as a dotted line block that controls the flow of water through the conduit 51 and into the tank while a lever 73 is mounted on the tank to conventionally through a chain 74 pull the flapper valve 75 to discharge water in the tank to flow to the channel in the rim 42 and therethrough into the chamber 43, members 73-75 being indicated by dotted lines since these parts are conventional.

In normal usage, the shut off valve 48 and the wastewater valve 59 are open while the shunt valve 70 is closed. In the event a clog occurs in one of the wastewater passage downstream of the wastewater valve and the wastewater line 45, liquids and solids do not drain from the toilet chamber, the wastewater valve is closed. Thence the shunt valve 70 is opened to apply water under pressure to flow into wastewater passage behind the clog to pressurized the liquid blocked by the clog. The pressurized water in the wastewater passage results in the clog being broken up and/or moved further to the wastewater passage 45 and then to the drain field or sewer line. After the clog is cleared, the shunt valve is closed. Then the wastewater valve is opened and the toilet is flushed that allows material in the toilet chamber to pass to the sewer or drain field. In the event the clog has not been cleared, the above steps can be repeated.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the third embodiment of the invention, generally designated 90, includes a body, a toilet W, that is the same as toilet T other than its stool 90A does not have wastewater valve nor the shunt valve passage 70A and its opening 70B, but does include a convention rim 42 with a conventional channel 42A and holes (not shown) that open into the bowl interior chamber 43. A wastewater passage, generally designated 100, in part is provided by the toilet having toilet wastewater passage portion 99 that provides trap 44 e which opens to the bottom part of the chamber 43 at 43A and an upwardly inclined portion 99A that opens to the downward extending portion 99C that opens to the toilet outlet 99B.

The toilet stool 90A is mounted on a platform 91 which in plan view may be of a shape similar to that of the toilet base 41A and may be generally a box with an enclosed hollow interior or without a hollow interior. The stool may be removably secured to the platform by, for example bolts 92 (diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines) in a manner that a toilet can be conventionally removably secured to, for example a floor 93 of a building, while the platform can be similarly removably secured to the floor 93 of a building.

The wastewater passage 100 includes the platform wastewater passage portion 94 which is provided in the platform to extend vertically in the platform and have its inlet end in fluidly communication with the outlet 99B of the toilet passage portion in a manner that may be the same as a toilet stool is conventionally fluidly connected to a wastewater line 45 and an outlet end 94A that may be similarly to that of a stool which is conventional fluid connected with the inlet end of the wastewater line 45. The outlet of the wastewater line 45 is fluidly connected to a main drain line 34 which in turn is fluidly connected to a sewer or drain field such as indicated with reference to in the first embodiment. Since such fluid connections of the platform passage to the toilet and the wastewater line include, for example as the use of wax rings, are conventional they are not shown nor such details described. A wastewater shut off valve 95 is mounted in the passage portion 94 for rotation between a shut off position and an open position permitting fluid flow between the platform passage portion inlet and outlet 94A which also is the body outlet.

A pressurize supply water line, generally designated 47, includes shut off valve 48 fluidly connected between a conduit 49, which in turn connected to a vertical conduit 51 in the toilet tank 52 and a conduit 53 which in turn is connected to a first leg of a T-joint 55. A conduit 47A, for example a pipe, fluidly connects a second leg of the T-joint to a convention source of water under pressure 57. Fluidly connected between the third leg of the T-joint 55 and the platform passage portion opposite the valve 95 from the platform passage inlet (stool outlet 92A) is a shunt valve 97, the fluid connection including a shunt valve conduit 97A that in part extends in the platform 91.

As indicated with reference to the second embodiment within the tank 52 of the third embodiment the toilet W there is a conventional float actuated inlet valve 72, a lever 73, and a chain 74 to pull the flapper valve 75 to discharge water in the tank to flow to the channel in the rim 42 such as described with reference to the second embodiment.

In normal usage of the third embodiment, the shut off valve 48 and the wastewater valve 95 are open while the shunt valve 97 is closed. In the event a clog occurs in one of the wastewater passage below the valve 95, and the wastewater line 45, liquids and solids do not drain from the toilet chamber, the wastewater valve is closed. Thence the shunt valve 97 is opened to apply water under pressure to flow into wastewater passage behind the clog to pressurized the liquid blocked by the clog. The pressurized water in the wastewater passage results in the clog being broken up and/or moved further in the wastewater passage 45 and then through the drain line 34 to the drain field or sewer line 37. After the clog is cleared, the shunt valve is closed. Then the wastewater valve is opened and the toilet is flushed that allows material in the toilet chamber to pass to the sewer or drain field. In the event the clog has not been cleared, the above steps can be repeated.

In each of the embodiments, advantageously the wastewater valve is a plug valve having a bore therethrough that is of a diameter that is about the same of the diameters of the adjacent part of the respective wastewater passage. Further, although it is advantageous to provide shut off valve 22, 48, such do not have to be provided as long as there are faucets or float actuated inlet valves 72 provided. Further, even not shown nor previously mentioned relative the second and third embodiments, normally a vent line would be fluidly connected at least the main drain line. 

1. In a system for clearing a clog blocking the flow of wastewater to a sewer or a drain field or the like, a body having an interior chamber for receiving water therein and a wastewater outlet, conduit means for selectively discharging water under pressure, means for controlling the flow of water from the conduit means into the interior chamber, a main drain line fluidly connected to one of a sewer and a drain field, a wastewater line having inlet and an outlet fluidly connected to the drain line, a wastewater passage fluidly connecting the interior chamber to the wastewater line inlet for conducting wastewater in the chamber to the wastewater line inlet, the wastewater passage having a wastewater valve operable between an open condition for permitting liquid flow therethrough and a closed condition, a wastewater passage having an outlet that opens to the wastewater line inlet and to the interior chamber and providing trap means for blocking flow of gases from the drain line to the chamber while permitting the flow of water therethrough and shunt valve means fluidly connected to the conduit means and selectively operable between an open position for shunting water under pressure from the conduit means and through a fluid connection to the wastewater passage fluidly opposite the wastewater valve from the chamber and a closed position blocking such flow whereby in the event a clog occurs fluidly opposite the fluid connection to the wastewater passage from the wastewater valve, the wastewater valve is operable to its closed position and the shunting means is operable for blocking water flow from the conduit means to the wastewater line and alternately permitting such flow to apply water under pressure to the clog while the wastewater valve is closed for clearing the clog in the wastewater line.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein a shut off valve is provided in the conduit means between the fluid connection of the shunt valve means and the means for controlling the flow of water from the conduit means.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wastewater valve is fluidly intermediate the trap means and the wastewater passage outlet.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wastewater valve is fluidly opposite the trap means from the chamber.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the body is one of a sink, tub, a toilet and a combination of a toilet and a toilet mounting platform.
 6. The system off claim 5 wherein there is a vent line, the main drain line extending downwardly of the vent line and a joint fluidly connecting the vent line, main drain line and the wastewater line to one another at a lower elevation than body outlet.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the means includes a faucet mounted to the body for selective discharging water into the body and blocking discharge of water into the body and a shut off valve intermediate the opening of the shunting means to the conduit means and the faucet.
 8. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a sink, the wastewater passage opens directly to the body chamber and extends exterior of the chamber.
 9. The system of claim 5 wherein the trap means comprises a generally U-shaped trap that is at a lower elevation than the body and is fluidly connected to the wastewater line, the wastewater line at least initially extending to a higher elevation than its fluid connection to the trap.
 10. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a toilet having a stool and the wastewater passage is contained therein.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the stool has the wastewater valve extending therein.
 12. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a combination of a toilet and a platform on which the toilet is mounted, the wastewater passage has a portion extending through the platform and the wastewater valve is provided in the platform wastewater portion.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein body includes a stool having the chamber, the wastewater passage having a portion extending with in the stool to open to the chamber.
 14. Apparatus for clearing blocking flow of wastewater from a body to one of a sewer and a drain field, comprising the body being one of a tub and a sink that has a wastewater outlet, a faucet for selectively discharging water under pressure thereinto, a supply line fluidly connected to the faucet for conducting water under pressure thereto, a main drain line fluidly connected to one of a drain field and a sewer, means fluidly connecting the body outlet to main drain line for conducting wastewater from the body outlet to the main drain line, said means having a trap therein for blocking gas flow from the drain line to the outlet while permitting water flow from the outlet to the drain line and a wastewater valve fluidly connected between the outlet and the trap, and a shunt valve fluidly connected to open to the supply line and opening to said means intermediate the wastewater valve and the trap that is operable between an open position to permit water flow from the supply line to said means and a closed position to block such flow, the wastewater valve being operable to its closed position when a clog occurs in the wastewater line and thereafter the shunt valve being operable to its open position to apply water under pressure to the clog for clearing the clog in the wastewater line and after the clog is cleared, first operating the shunt valve is operable to its closed position and thence the wastewater valve is operable to its closed position.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the water supply line includes a shut off valve fluidly intermediate the opening of the shunt valve thereto and the faucet.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a vent is fluidly connected to the drain line.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means includes a wastewater line fluidly connected to the main drain line having an inlet and a wastewater passage is fluidly connected to the waste water line inlet and includes the wastewater valve and trap therein, the trap being a generally U-shaped trap at a lower elevation than the wastewater valve and being fluidly connected to the wastewater line at a lower elevation than the wastewater valve.
 18. A method for clearing a clog in one of a wastewater passage and a wastewater line that is fluidly connected to one of a drain field and a sewer line and to a water outlet of a body such of one of a sink or a tub and a toilet with a trap therein for permitting water flow from a chamber of the body to one of the drain field and sewer line while blocking flow of a gas therethough toward the chamber and a pressurized water supply line for conducting water through a first means for selectively discharging water into the body chamber and alternately blocking such discharge, the steps of providing a shunt valve opening to the water supply line downstream of said first means and opening to the wastewater passage intermediate the chamber and the outlet that is operable for blocking water flow from the water supply line, providing a wastewater valve in the wastewater passage fluidly intermediate the outlet and the chamber that is operable between an open position permitting water flow from the chamber to the outlet and a closed position blocking water flow from the chamber to the outlet and when a clog occurs in one of the wastewater, passage and the wastewater line fluidly opposite the wastewater valve from the outlet, first operating the wastewater valve to its closed position, then operating the shunt valve to its open position to apply water under pressure to clear the clog, thereafter first operating the shunt valve to its closed position and then the wastewater valve to its open position.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the supply line is a hot water line.
 20. The method of claim 18 the step of providing a shut off valve in the supply line that is fluidly intermediate the opening of the shunt valve to the water supply line and said means is a faucet that is operable between a closed position blocking water flow into said body and an open position permitting such flow and when a clog occurs in the wastewater line, operating the shut off valve to its closed position prior to operating the shunt valve to its open position and after the clog has been cleared, operating the shunt valve to its closed position prior to operating the wastewater valve to its open position.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a sink and the wastewater valve is provided in the wastewater passage intermediate the chamber and the trap with the shunt valve opening to the wastewater passage intermediate the wastewater valve and the trap.
 22. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a toilet having a stool with the wastewater passage together with the wastewater valve extending therein and having a first passage portion extending upwardly and a second passage portion that extends downwardly from the first passage portion and the opening of the shunt valve to the wastewater passage is provided by a shunt passage opening to the first passage portion.
 23. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a combination of a toilet and a platform and the toilet has a stool mounted on the platform and the wastewater passage is in part provided within the stood to open to the chamber and in part to extend through the platform with the wastewater passage extending therethrough with its outlet opening through a wastewater line to a main drain line and the wastewater valve is in the platform passage portion. 